Sling Bag – Big & Small Squares

This tutorial shows how you can weave this sling bag with yellow and black squares.

This pattern of big and small squares is created by using two knots – box knot and box knot variation. So knowing how to weave those two knots is necessary. I have added both written tutorial (in this website) and video tutorial (YouTube) for these two knots. Click on the links if you are interested.

Things needed

Method for making this checkered sling bag

I have posted a video tutorial for this bag. Link for that video has been given at the bottom of this page.

To create the base, we will start by adding all the cut pieces to the running wire.

The base has 6 rows so we will make 3 rows with yellow as running wire and 3 rows with black as running wire.

Leave 100 cms of running wire free and then start adding the cut wire one by one. We start with box knot and second knot will be the variation knot. (All even numbered knots will be variation knots)

All 16 wire pieces have been added. Leave 100 cms and cut the running wire.

This will be the middle row and other rows will be added above and below this.

As you can see above, the second row starts with a variation knot.

And 3rd will start with regular box knot.

All three rows with black as running wire are done.

On the other side of the middle row, add 3 more rows with yellow as running wire.

We use two colors as running wires for the base because we want to carry over the basket pattern that is seen on the sides to the base as well.

6 rows are done.

Don’t cut the running wire after weaving the 6th row of the base because we will be using that as the running wire.

Now we have to turn the 4 corners after which we will be able to weave the sides of the basket.

Using the running wire, continue weaving knots around the corner. Each of the 4 corners will be made up of 3 knots. There is only one thing that you have to remember when you weave the first round around the base – the pattern of knots -> box knot – box knot variation – box knot – box knot variation etc

As you can see above, the gaps formed between the knots are not diamonds. This will get corrected when we weave the next row.

The two short sides will have this problem but the two long sides of the base will have perfect diamond shaped gaps just like the rest of the base.

As you can see, the second short side will also have misshaped holes.

Once you finish a round around the base, continue going around it in circles and the basket will begin to grow.

After 2 rounds around the base, you can see the basket growing in height.

As seen below, make a knot with the first knot in each round so you can keep count of the rounds.

Make 8 to 9 rounds with black wire as running wire and then change color of running wire to yellow.

You can do this by making both wires overlap each other and travel together for 2 knots.

One round complete with yellow as running wire.

Add one extra round with yellow as running wire because when we tuck in the excess wire, we will be pulling the top row inside.

Trim excess if you like to do so before tucking the ends in or you can cut later as well.

Weave the end through the 3rd wire as will make it possible for you to pull down the top round down.

The wires will appear crisscross. Don’t stop with weaving through just one knot. Each wire has to be passed under at least 5 knots for them to be secure.